Geoff Webb

Geoff was born in 1952 on February 5th (the day before the late king died). Geoff is from a very local Suffolk family; they moved from one side of Ipswich to the other in about 1800 and stayed there. Geoffs mother tried to get him to go to piano lessons at the age of 7 but gave up the struggle. So at the age of 11 in his first term in secondary school he was persuaded to go to band practice one Tuesday lunchtime. The teacher said "smile at me" and then said "you're playing one of these" and promptly handed him a somewhat bashed Eb Bass. He was then put in the band cupboard with an older boy, who showed him what to do with the tuba and the following Thursday he was in the school band. That was Geoff's only "lesson" until he went to Ipswich Civic College (Suffolk College) to do 'A' levels, 5 years later. There he met and had lessons with the indomitable Chas Pelling and Bernard Reader. After 'A' levels Geoff moved to North East Essex Technical College (Colchester Institute) to continue his musical studies, with Michael Clack. From there Geoff moved to teacher training college and into brass teaching in 1975. His first post was as the brass teacher in Orwell High and Deben High schools Felixstowe. Geoff has since moved to the Suffolk County Music Service. Away from teaching Geoff's playing has involved Brass Band - mainly Ipswich Town Band and now Ipswich and Norwich Co-op Band, both championship section, Wind band - Suffolk Military Band (Suffolk Concert Band), he conducted their junior band and on occasion conducted the main band for 25 years. Geoff also conducted the Trianon Music Group wind band for a number of years. At some point Geoff has played for every orchestra in the area. We must not forget quintets and brass ensembles, mainly Suffolk Brass, a quintet that played all over the eastern area and abroad. Geoff is very happily married to Sally. They have a cat called Molly and a wonderful daughter, Charlotte, who plays the trumpet. Incidentally Geoff now lives in the village that his family moved from 200 years ago.